The Power of Listening at Work with Miranda Birch

The Power of Listening at Work with Miranda Birch

Author: People Soup March 11, 2026 Duration: 41:10

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 47 of People Soup.

Listening is one of the most powerful communication skills at work — yet it’s often the one we practice least.

What happens when someone really listens to you at work?

In this episode of People Soup, Ross McIntosh talks with Miranda Birch — former BBC journalist and founder of The Richest Conversations — about the power of listening and why better conversations can transform how we work together.

Drawing on her career in broadcasting and interviewing, Miranda shares what journalism can teach us about communication at work, leadership conversations, and creating the space where people feel heard and understood.

Ross and Miranda explore:

  1. Why deep listening is becoming a rare skill at work
  2. How great interviewers build trust and rapport quickly
  3. What leaders can learn from broadcast journalism techniques
  4. The connection between conversations, confidence, and wellbeing
  5. How simple moments of connection — even saying hello — can have a powerful impact.

You’ll also hear Miranda’s reflections on growing up surrounded by radio, her journey into the BBC, and how curiosity and listening shaped her approach to storytelling.

If you’re interested in better communication at work, leadership skills, coaching conversations, or workplace wellbeing, this episode is packed with insights you can use straight away.

So get a brew on, settle in, and enjoy part one of Ross’s conversation with Miranda Birch.

About People Soup

People Soup is a podcast that mixes stories, science and a sprinkle of daftness to explore what helps people thrive at work and beyond. Drawing on behavioural science — especially Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — Ross shares practical ideas to help you build a better work life.


Visit Ross' Website.

Connect with Ross on LinkedIn

People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life

He's now also on Bluesky

The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE


Ever wonder why we do the things we do, especially at work or when trying to lead others? People Soup digs into that question, but it doesn’t stop at theory. Each episode is built on a foundation of behavioural science, which means you’ll get more than just interesting stories-you’ll get a clearer understanding of the human ingredients that make up our daily interactions. The conversations here feel real and unscripted, often touching on the messy, rewarding, and sometimes frustrating experience of simply being human. You’ll find that this podcast operates at the intersection of our professional ambitions and our personal well-being, exploring how they influence each other in ways we might not immediately see. It’s for anyone who has left a meeting baffled by a colleague’s reaction, struggled to motivate a team, or just wanted to navigate their own goals with a bit more clarity and less friction. The ideas discussed are deliberately practical, designed to be used almost immediately, whether you’re looking to improve a process, a relationship, or your own mindset. Tune in for a blend of thoughtful analysis and actionable insight that aims to make the complex recipe of human behaviour a little easier to understand and work with.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

People Soup
Podcast Episodes
Exploration & Curiosity with Charlotte Housden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:34
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 1 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.In this episode you'll meet Charlotte Housden, who talks about the evolution of career as a chartered coaching psychologist,…
ACBS UK & ROI Conference 2024 with Louise McHugh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:55
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 60 of People Soup.P Soupers - well I'm as surprised as you are to be popping up with this bonus episode.It's a one off special where I have a chat with the president o…
Compassion the Remix with Dr Stan Steindl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:27
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 59 of People Soup.P Soupers - Compassion is a theme that's been on my mind over the last few weeks, what with travel, preparing proposals, catching up on business admi…
Anxiety the Remix with Dr Eric Goodman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:56
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 58 of People Soup.P Soupers - what were you doing on 28 November 2020. I can tell you what I was doing in the late afternoon - I was chatting to Dr Eric Goodman - anxi…
Getting practical with Cognitive Defusion with Dr Richard MacKinnon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:46
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 57 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here. P Soupers - it's part 3B of our mini series - my new collaboration with Dr Richard MacKinnon from WorkLifePsych - where we…
Cognitive Fusion - Intro with Dr RIchard MacKinnon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:54
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 56 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here. P Soupers - it's the third part of our mini series - my new collaboration with Dr Richard MacKinnon from WorkLifePsych - w…
Perspectacles the Remix [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:18
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5, Episode 55 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.P Soupers - this week it's a cup a soup and a remix. I bring you a refreshed version of one of our most popular episodes fr…
The Head of Drama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:11
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5, Episode 54 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.P Soupers - this week it's a cup a soup - where I reflect on my recent trip to Dublin and how sometimes my mind can be less…
Noticing with Dr Richard MacKinnon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:39
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 53 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here. P Soupers - it's the second part of a mini series - my new collaboration with Dr Richard MacKinnon from WorkLifePsych - wh…
Dr Ranj Singh - Sleep & Wellness Ambassador [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:43
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 52 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here. P Soupers - I've got a treat for you this week - a few weeks ago I had a chat with an NHS Doctor who is also a Best sellin…